New Delhi, April 30 (IANS) A rare Small Indian Civet was recovered from the campus of the Jamia Millia Islamia here, an official said Saturday.
Civet, an endangered species under the Wildlife Act, was spotted inside a cavity in a room in the IT department of the university, which then called the rescue team of NGO Wildlife SOS.
‘When the team reached the location, it was confirmed to be a civet, but looked a little different than the usual Asian Palm Civet. Although it was visible, it was still at an inaccessible location for a safe rescue,’ said Karthick Satynarayan from Wildlife SOS.
The team had to disturb the animal to drive it out in the open. The moment the animal emerged, the team safely secured it with the help of an animal snare.
‘The civet was brought to the medical rehabilitation shelter of Wildlife SOS and identified as a Small Indian Civet. It had a small injury on the tail, probably result of a fight with a dog or another civet. The civet was kept under medical attention and after full recovery has been released in the home range,’ he said.
Civet is a nocturnal and terrestrial mammal capable of climbing high trees and preferentially stays on the forest fringes eventually coming in contact with human habitation.
‘It is hunted chiefly in this range for its meat and occasionally ‘civet’ – the musk gland present in these species which are used in the perfume industry. The population of these civets is on the decline owing to the severe habitat destruction. It is an omnivore and feeds on smaller mammals, rats and snakes and occasionally fruits,’ he added.
